Fumigation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A MANIFOLD HAS A FIRST CONNECTION WITH A FLEXIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR AN ARTICLE TO BE FUMIGATED AND A SECOND CONNECTION WITH A VACUUM SOURCE. AN OPERATOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANIFOLD CAUSES A PRESSURIZED FUMIGATE TO BE DISCHARGED WITHIN THE MANIFOLD WHEN THE   VACUUM SOURCE IS BLOCKED AND THE FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND ARTICLE ARE FREE TO EXPAND.

Jam 12, 1971 l R. J cAsslDY 3,554,688

FUMIGATION APPARATUS lFilm1-May 12, 1969 2 sheets-sheet 2 FAG", 5.

FIG.6.-

ATTORNEY United States Patent O "i Int. Cl. A611 3/00 ILS. Cl. 21-91 17 vClaims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE A manifold has a rst connection with a -exible and collapsible container for an article to be fumigated and a second connection with a vacuum source. An operator associated with the manifold causes'a pressurized fumigant to be discharged within the manifold when the vacuum source is blocked and the flexible container and article are free to expand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 'I'his 'application is a continuation-in-part of prior copending application S.N. 786,577, tiled Dec. 24, 1968, for fumigating apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for an economical and lightweight device for use by the housewife in fumigating or sanitizing bed pillows, blankets, clothing and the like. Such articles become moldy and odorous and it is highly de sirable to have some ready means in the household foi fumigating Without the necessity for sending the bedding or clothing to a commercial establishment for this purpose. As disclosed in said prior application, a solution to the problem resides in a fumigating Aapparatus which isoperated by a'household vacuum cleaner, utilizing the suction power of the cleaner to collapse or compress 'the soft article being fumigated, followed by the relieving of suction and vallowing the article to expand and -draw deeply into the interior thereof an aerosol fumigant Vmistl from a pressurized dispenser. The prior application discloses commercial embodiments of the invention and a house-v hold embodiment. The principal objective of this invention is to simplify and improve upon the household embodiment ofthe fumigator, rendering the same substantially foolproof and easy to use and very economical to manufacture. Furthermore, the invention does not in any way injure the vacuum cleaner or detract from its usefullness as a cleaner or alter its structure in any way. The manifold body of the present invention has a simple coupling which attaches in a conventional manner to the flexible hose of the cleaner and by a simple valving arrangement the invention apparatus releases the fumigant at the proper time under control of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. lis a side elevation of a fumigation apparatus for bed pillows and the like according to one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a central vertical cross section through the apparatus while the same is adjusted to draw a partial vacuum in the flexible container or envelope.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing parts of the apparatus positioned to dispense the fumi-gant spray when the vacuum is shut oft'.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a central vertical section Ythrough the modified form with parts positioned for drawing a partial vacuum in the collapsible container.

3,554,688 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 ICC . FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view showing the vacuum shut olf Iand the fumigant spray being discharged.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vent -valve element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, and referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 4, the numeral 15 designates a substantially rigid box-like manifold conveniently formed of plastic and having a xed internal support bracket 16 for a pressurized container 17 of a suitable fumigant spray, the container 17 having a conventional outlet nozzle 18 which operates a conventional outlet valve means when pushed axially inwardly, as is well known.

The manifold 15 has a perforated cover or lid 19 detachably mounted on the normally open side thereof through which the container 17 may pass when changing of the fumigant container is necessary. A flexible bag or container 20 formed of plastic or plastic-coated fabric or the like is suitably sealed at 21 around the mouth of the manifold 15 and preferably has a zipper closure 22, through which a -bed pillow 23 or like article may be introduced into the container 20 or removed therefrom readily. The container 20 may also receive a blanket, sweaters or other articles of clothing requiring fumigation.

The manifold 15 is provided at one end with a tubular extension 24 extending laterally thereof and coupling with Ia conventional vacuum cleaner hose 25 of a household vacuum cleaner, not shown. A slide or valve operator 26 fits loosely in the manifold 15 and has arms 27 and 28 'which extend across opposite ends of container 17 while the base of the slide 26 passes beneath the bracket 16. The arm 18 carries an operating stem 29 rigid therewith extending movably through a guide bushing 30 which has an enlarged bore 31 surrounding the stem 29 with considerable clearance so as to form an air vent passage. The stem 29 has a finger knob 32 on its outer end and a xed collar 33 thereon inwardly of the bushing 30, whereby the collar may cover the bore 31 or vent passage under some circumstances, FIG. 2.

The opposite end wall 34 of manifold 15 carries on its inner face a compressible annular sealing ring 35 adapted to form a seal with the arm 27 when the slide 26 is shifted in one direction as shown in FIG. 3. The wall 34 has an opening 36 within the confines of the ring 35 through which a valve stem 37 on the arm 27 projects. This stem 37 carries a poppet valve head 38 on `its remote end, engageable with a wall 39 parallel to the manifold wall 34 and having an opening 40 aligned W-ith the opening 36. The wall 39 forms a part of an end chamber extension on the manifold 15 beyond the wall 34, as shown. A compression spring 41 in this end chamber extension sur-rounds the stern 37 and has one end bearing against the wall 39 while its opposite end bears against a cross member 42 carried by the stern 37. The spr-ing 41 thus biases the valve head 38 to a closed position, FIG. 2, with respect to the vacuum relief opening 40, to be further described.

OPERATION With a pillow or like article enclosed within the container 20 and the slide 26 in its normal position, FIG. 2, under inuence of biasing spring 41, the vacuum cleaner is turned on and the interior of the flexible container 20 is evacuated through the perforated cover 19 and through the seal ring 35 and the passage leading to the hose 25. At that time, the elements 38 and 33 are both seated. The element 33 incidentally -is not essential to proper functioning of the apparatus and may -be omitted. The container 20 will collapse down to a condition roughly illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1 and the pillow or atss Y like article will have substantially all contaminated air forced therefrom by the vacuum process and the force of atmospheric pressure on the outside of the iiexible container.

The operator now pushes the button 32, FIG. 3, thus causing the arm 27 to seal with the ring 35 so that vacuum is blocked from the manifold and container 20. Also, the vacuum relief valve element 38 is unseated to protect the vacuum cleaner motor from overheating as where the same is left running. Simultaneously, the arm 28 depresses nozzle 18 and causes the pressurized fumigant to emit therethrough into the manifold 15 and through the perforations of the cover 19 into the container 20. The vent passage 31 lis now open. The container 20 with the pillow or the like therein is now free to expand rather rapidly and the fumigant spray is drawn or breathed into the interior reaches of the pillow to thoroughly sanitize and deodorize the same. Some very effective fumigant sprays are available for this purpose. The dispensing of the spray will continue while the user continues to depress the button or knob 32 and when this is released the spring 41 will return the parts to their positions of FIG. 2 and, if desired, the container 20 and contents may again be collapsed and compressed by the action of vacuum prior to another treatment with the fumigant as depicted in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. to 8, a modification of the invention is shown wherein the fumigating spray dispensing can itself constitutes a valve element. Referring to these drawing figures, a cylindrical tubular manifold 43 is shown having a side tubular fitting 44 adapted for connection to the conventional vacuum cleaner hose 45. A vacuum relief valve element 46 in the form of a ring having a port 47 is provided on the tubular fitting 44. The port 47 is shiftable into registration with a coacting port 48 of the stationary tubular fitting. This vacuum relief valve means is adustable and may, if desired, be partly opened at all times.

A screw cap 49 is provided upon one end of the manifold 43 having a perforated wall 50, as shown. A flange 51 on this screw cap coacts with an opposing annular flange 52 of the manifold for clamping a flexible container or bag 53 adapted to `be changed for a new bag whenever required. The bag or container 53 is adapted to receive a pillow or the like and serves exactly the same purpose as the previously-described bag 20. A stop bar 54, whose purpose will be described, extends across the interior of the cap 49, as shown.

A pressurized cylindrical can 55 of fumigant spray is provided having an outlet spray nozzle 56 and is received within the manifold 43 removably. The manifold has a first internal ring seal 57 to sealingly engage the can 55 which incidentally may be of any desired length. A second resilient ring seal 58 is provided in the manifold 43 closer to the cap 49 and on the opposite side of the fitting 44 for the vacuum hose. This second seal 58 has a resilient lip 59 adapted to engage the Crowned end 60 of the can 55 at certain times to form a seal therewith, FIG. 7. The seal 57 engages the can in all operative positions of the latter.

A vent valve ring 61, FIG. 8, fits slidably within the bore of manifold 43 and has radial ports 62 adapted at certain times to register with coacting ports 63 in the manifold to vent the same. The ring 61 is kept in proper circumferential alignment by a guide rib 64 which slides in a keyway or groove in the bore of the manifold 43. The ring valve element 61 carries a bumper 65 which engages the stop bar 54 at certain times and also engages the nozzle 56. The ring valve element is opposed on one side thereof by a light coil spring 66. The ring valve element is shifted toward the cap 49 'by means of the nozzle 56, FIG. 7, to bring the ports `62 and 63 into registry and the spring 66 maintains the ring valve element normally in the position of FIG. 6 against the seal 58 with the ports 62 and 63 out of registration. Other 75 4 l forms of vent valves may be employed and the device will work satisfactorily by merely having a few of the vent ports 63 left open at all times. The end of the manifold 43 remote from the bag 53 preferably has a fingerengaging annular flange 67 to facilitate shifting the can 55 relative to the manifold 43 with little effort.

OPERATION With a pillow or the like in the container 53 and a fresh can 55 of fumigant within the manifold 43 in the position of FIG. 6, the vacuum is turned on and the iiexible container 53 will be evacuated and will collapse under atmospheric pressure. The vent ports 63 are closed and the vacuum relief ports 47 and 48 may be out of registration or even partially registering, if desired. The exhausted air passes through the cap 50 and the space between valve lip 59 and the crowned end 60 of the can and into the vacuum hose 45, the seal 57 gripping the can at all times.

When the container 53 is adequately exhausted and collapsed, the can 55 is thrust inwardly, FIG. 7, to seal with the lip 59 thus shutting off the vacuum. Suction at this time is relieved through the port means 47-48 to protect the vacuum cleaner motor. Simultaneously, the nozzle 56 carries the ring valve 61 forwardly until the bumper 65 is arrested by the stop bar 54 and the vent ports 63 are now open. The resulting depression of the nozzle 56 opens the conventional valve means of the can 55 and the fumigant spray is discharged through the nozzle 56 and, together with some air entering through the ports 63, is drawn into the bag 53 and the pillow therein as the bag and pillow expand. The operator has full control over the amount of fumigant dispensed at all times. When the bag 53 is fully expanded, the can 55 may be returned to its position in FIG. 6 and the entire process repeated, if desired.

It should now be clear that the principal difference over the previous embodiment is that the can 55 itself forms a part of the vacuum valve. Both forms of the invention produce substantially the same desired results.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to.

I claim:

1. A fumigating device for bedding, clothing and the like comprising a flexible and collapsible container adapted to receive and enclose articles to be fumigated, a manifold connected with said container and being in communication therewith, a vacuum outlet on said manifold adapted for connection with a hose of a household vacuum cleaner, a vacuum relieve valve means on the manifold, said manifold also having an atmospheric air vent means, and a pressurized fumigant spray dispenser within the manifold including a manually operable discharge valve means, said vacuum relief valve means being open to protect the vacuum cleaner motor when the discharge valve means is operated to dispense fumigant spray into said manifold.

2. The structure of claim 1, and a normally open vacuum control valve on the manifold which is closed when the discharge Nalve means is rendered open by the operator.

3. The structure of claim 2, and said vacuum control valve includes a resilient seal on the interior of the manifold and a manually shiftable element movable into engagement with said seal.

4. The structure of claim 3, and said fumigant spray dispenser including a part movable into and out of engagement with said resilient seal and said dispenser thus forming an element of the vacuum control valve.

5. A fumigating device comprising a manifold adapted for connection with a vacuum source and having a vacuum control valve element thereon, a fumigant spray dispenser means movably mounted Within the manifold and including an operator having a part shiftable into engagement with the vacuum control element, and a exible and collapsible container secured to said manifold and being in open communication with the interior of the manifold.

6. The structure of claim 5, and a vacuum relief valve on the manifold which is open when the vacuum control element is engaged by said part.

7. The structure of claim 5, and said part engaging the lvacuum control element is a walled portion of a container of `fumigant constituting a component of said dispenser means.

8. The structure of claim 5, and said manifold having a vent to atmosphere.

9. The structure of claim 5, and said part engaging the 'vacuum control element being a slide element within the manifold having an external inger operator.

10. The structure of claim 9, and the slide element having a portion engaging and rendering active said dispenser means substantially simultaneous with the engagement of the vacuum control element.

11. The structure of claim 10, and said vacuum control element is a comp-ressble seal.

12. The structure of claim 11, and said seal is a rubberlike ring seal within the manifold.

13. The structure of claim 5, and said manifold having a perforated wall separating the interior of the collapsible container from the interior of the manifold.

14.,The structure of claim 5, and a threaded cap on one end of the manifold having perforations, said cap having a flange andsaid manifold having an opposing flange, and a marginal part of the flexible container disposed in clamped relation between said flanges.

15. The structure of claim 5, and said fumigant spray dispenser means comprises a dispensing container having an outlet nozzle and valve means, one end portion of the dispensing container adapted to engage said vacuum control element, and a resilient internal seal on the manifold snugly surrounding the dispensing container.

16. The structure of claim 15, and a shiftable vent valve element on the manifold adapted to be engaged and moved by the dispensing container.

17. The structure of claim 15, and a fixed stop element on the manifold in the path of movement of the outlet nozzle and valve means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary IExaminer J. T. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 21-109, 127 

